Prosecution defends decision to charge Olmert

A state prosecutor, Eli Abarbanel, defended his decision to charge former prime minister Ehud Olmert, saying that the prosecution had an obligation to present its position to the courts.

"We respect the court for its decision," he said in a press briefing following the trial. "The court has decided that it rejects our position on Olmert, and that is its right. But we had an obligation to present out position."

Abarbanel added that the court "harshly condemned" Olmert for his role in the affairs.